Gyroscopic steering mechanism



Feb. 24, 1925. 1,527,777

N. BLOUN-T GYROSCOPIC STEERING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 18. 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 1 x r i 1r 0 Y O i 9& 1'.

INVEN TOR.

BZO an} ATTORNEY.

Feb. 24, 1925. 1,527,777

N. BLOUNT GYROSCOPIC STEERING MECHANI Sll Original Filed Aug. 18. 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 2 W 2mm INVEIiVTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 2 1, 1925.

STATS NELSON BLOUNT, F JAMESTOWN, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, TO THEGOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

GYROSCOPIC STEERING IVIECHANISM.

Application filed August 18, 1920, Serial No. 404,482.

T 0 all whom-2'1 may concern.

Be it known that I, NELSON BLOUNT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jamestown, Rhode Island, have invented new and 6 usefulImprovements in Gyroscopic Steering Mechanism, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedoes and moreparticularly to improve- 10 ments in the steering mechanism of thelVhitehead or Bliss-Leavitt torpedo now in general use as a weapon ofnaval warfare.

The more recent developments of torpedoes of the above character, theexact construction and operation of which is at present largely a matterof military secrecy, provides certain means whereby the course of thetorpedo may be changed under certain circumstances at some period oftime mate- 2 rially after the launching of the torpedo. As is well-knownto those familiar with the art, the steering of a torpedo of the abovetype is automatically controlled by and through the medium of agyroscope which is so connected with the steering rudders through theusual steering engine as to maintain the torpedo on almost an absolutelystraight line, all variations therefrom being but a few feet to themile. In the mechanism now employed the gyro wheel operates through amechanism, including a cam to rapidly oscillate a pallet in a generallongitudinal direction. Any movement of the gyro due to a change incourse will cause the pallet to also move about an axis at an angle tothe line of oscillation. l/Vhen such movement takes place othermechanism connected with the steerin engine is actuated to bring thetorpedo back upon its true 40 course.

As above stated, under certain circumstances, is is desirable that thetorpedo should leave its true straight line course sharply either to theright or left and the present invention contemplates a mechanism wherebythe control of the gyro upon the steering engine may be instantaneouslyand temporarily suspended while what may be termed the auxiliary controlmechanism is connected with the steering engine to control the torpedoon its diverted course.

It is, therefore, one ot the objects of the present invention to providea simple and Renewed September 27, 1924.

practical mechanism of the above general type which will be reliable andefficient in use and operation.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above character havingrelatively few parts compactly arranged which may be easily manufacturedand assembled and installed in the present type of torpedo withoutmaking material alterations in the present arrangement and location ofother essential parts.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above character somounted, p0- sitioned and arranged with respect to the gyro and steeringengine as to permit an instantaneous change from one control to theother in either direction as circumstances require, whereby greateraccuracy and efficiency is obtained in the firing of the torpedo towardsthe target. 7

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout. The invention accordingly consists in construction and arrangementof parts and the relation of each part to the other parts as will behereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawingsshowing one of various possible embodiments of the invention.

In these drawings wherein similar parts are indicated by correspondingreference characters,

Figure l is a detail view.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of auxiliary pallet.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary view of the upper part of Figure 1 with theslot plate removed. 1

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 22, Figure 1, of such parts of thecomplete mechanlsm as is necessary to understand the present invention.

Referring now to these drawings in detail there is denoted at 1 a plateon which are mounted the usual gyroscope pallet pa-wls 2 and 3 connectedby means of adjusting studs 4, partially shown and screw 5. On the plate1 are also mounted a second pair of pawls 6 and 7 being at the oppositeside of the plate 1 and shown more clearly in Figure 6. These pawls areconnected by means of a upper end ot the pallet shaft 23 which],

link similar to and lying directly under link 8, Figure 1, whichconnectsa third set of pallet pawls 9 and 1Q mountedabove and on the sametulcrum pins 11 and 12 as the second set of pawls 6 and 7. The movementof any pawl is then equaland opposite to common link connections and noadjustments of the second and third set of pawls are re quired as in thecase ,of the gyropawls 2 and 3. The pawl*7 "of the second setisconnected by meansof a screwpin 13,130 link 14; whichin turn isconnectedby apin 1.5, and a link 16 to a pin 17 in the arm-of the gyro .palletpawl 1 Thus movement can then be to the pin 15 by either pawlacttransmitted ing independentlyor simultaneously, without transmittinga corresponding.movement to the connectedpawl. This will perhaps be moreclear by the double dotted and dash lines in Figure 4.

Gn the top of link 16 is a plate18 with the diagonal slot 21 adapted tobe connected to the steering engine Valve stem by means of the hole 19 m.to the pallet pawl of the third set .by meansot a screw pin 20. The

pin l5enters the diagonalslot 21, inthe plate 18, whose dimensions areslightly larger than the diameter of the pin. Slot 29 at the end of theplate 18 acts as a guide for the back and forth movement of the slottedplate 18.0ver thepinl7.

The gyroscope pallet 22 which normally has a reciprocating movementsubstantially along the line .1-1v is mounted upon the -,passes througha pallet holder 24; and;.is v given the reciprocating.,moyement above;mentioned by means of the usual pallet slide andv cam notshown. IThispalletshaft 281 .is rotated by; the action-oftheagyrosut ficientlytoengage the pallet on fits outward or forward stroke-with one or theother of the gyro pallet ;pawls 2 or 3. .Entirely separate and free fromthe gyropallet but carried and driven byt-he pallet holder is a secondpallet 25 mountedon a shoulder- 26 of the palletholder, by means of aring portion 27 as will appear more clear from the. disclosuresinFigures 2 ;and 3. The

fit of the ring 27 on the shoulder is sufficiently free. to permit thepallet to rotate easily. The reciprocative movement of the second palletis equal but opposite to any stroke of the gyro pallet. V

The dimensions of the blade of the. second pallet 25 are such as toenable it toengage both the second and. third pallet pawlssimultaneously. Back of the end oflthe. blade, however, are .twoshoulders 28,, Figure 3, of suchheight asto enga'ge only the lower setof pallet pawls 6jand 7. In the neutral positionshown'the blade, ofthesecond pallet 25 istree to, pass between both v the second and thirdsets of pallet pawls.

At the full stroke of the pallet the shoulders 28 touch the lower pawls6 and 7 and maintainthese in balanced or neutral position. These in turnhold the'pin by means of the link 14 in a central position between theparallel. shoulders of the ,di-agonalislot 121 that of the connectedpawl by means of their in theiplate 18. This neutral position of ism.Movement is also impressed on the pallet by the sameconnection. Inthismanner theoperationof theauxiliary control steer- ,ing mechanismwillinstantly disconnect the steering effect of thegyro through the normal palletpawls 2 and 8. I Abrief statement of the operation ot themechanism is' as" tollowsz- Underi the; in-

;fluence of the gyroscope the gyrogpallet 22 .isshifted sideways withrespect'to its reciprocations to engage oneor the other of ;the, palletpawls 2fand 3gand movement is transmitted therefrom to" the steeringengine through thepinil'l, link 16, 'pinf15 to the shoulders of thediagonal slotf'21 in the slotted plate 18 and thence to the valve stemconnected through the hole 19, as shown in Figure 1.

As long as" thefpin 15 is in the center position thezgyro controls thesteering engine. It the second pallet islshitted'ini either direction toengage one-halt otgthe second and third sets of pallet pawls,. the.pa3vl 6 or '7, shiftsithe pin 15 bymeans of af link L4 out oi the centerpositi on, and the pawls 9 or l0 directly connected to 'thefsteeringengine, by the screw pin 20 'and"the valve stem connectedin the holeilgot theslot' plate 18, control the steering engine. "The; gyro is therebydisconnected from the steering engine, since a ny movement ofjthe' gyro'bawls 2 or 3 results; only .in the "free 111016- ment 'otf the pin 15in one-half of the diagonal fslot 21, with'no movement of the-"sloti'pla e To restore thest-eering enginecontrol to the gyro the secondpallet-.25 is'retu gned to the neutral position. One of the shoulders 28of the second qallet engages the advanced pallet pawl 6 or rand returnsit to abalance position as regards its opposite and the 'pin 15 isthereby returned to the central. position byflsliding in thediagonal1slot 21 and the control of} the steering. engine. is. restoredinstantly to the, gyro.

, Each backward movement of the pallet brings'the shoulders 28 of thesecond pallet to aposition just'clearbt the pawls 6 and 7 at the fullback stroke. Theretormthe central position oflpin 15-is maintained andany movement out of 'POSltlOIl i s instantly corrected. Sincegthe to andfro motion of the pallet holder is exceedingly rapid the operation ofthe mechanism is nearly instantaneous.

From the above it will be seen that the present invention provides asimple and practical mechanism adapted to instantly shift the steeringcontrol of the torpedo from either the gyro to the auxiliary steeringmechanism or vice versa. The mechanism comprises a small compactarrangement of parts which may be easily applied to the torpedoes now inuse without material alteration or disarrangement of the mechanisms nowtherein contained.

lVithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gistoi this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting certain featuresthat, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,and, therefore, such adaptions should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of thefollowing claims.

What I claim is 1. In a torpedo, in combination, a gyro, a steeringmechanism and means whereby the action of the gyro on the steeringmechanism may be temporarily neutralized during the run of a torpedo.

2. In a torpedo, in combination, a gyro, a steering engine controlledthereby and means for disconnecting the gyro from the steering engine,including a plurality of pallets associated with the gyro.

3. In a torpedo, in combination, a gyro, a steering engine controlledthereby and means for disconnecting the gyro from the steering engine,including a plurality of pallets associated with the gyro, said palletsbeing independent of each other.

4. In a torpedo, in combination, a gyro, a steering engine controlledthereby and means for connecting and disconnecting said gyro with saidsteering engine, comprising a plurality of sets of pallet pawls and aplurality of pallets coacting therewith.

5. In a torpedo, in combination, a gyro, a steering engine controlledthereby and means for connecting and disconnecting said: gyro with saidsteering engine, comp-rising a plurality of pallets coacting therewith,said pallets being independently mounted movable with respect to eachother, one of said pallets normally reciprocating neutrally between oneof said sets of pallet pawls.

Signed at Newport, Rhode Island, this 19th day of June, 1920.

NELSON BLOUNT.

